What do Music therapists do?
Who can benefit from music therapy?
How does Music therapy make a difference with children?
What can one expect from a Music Therapist?
How does Music Therapy help families?
Why Music Therapy?
What do others say about Music Therapy?
What is a typical Music Therapy session like?

What do music therapists do?

Music therapists involve children in singing, listening, moving, playing, and in creative activities that may help them become better learners. Music therapists work on developing a child’s self-awareness, confidence, readiness skills, coping skills, and social behavior and may also provide pain management techniques. They explore which styles of music, techniques and instruments are most effective or motivating for each individual child and expand upon the child’s natural, spontaneous play in order to address areas of need.

Often working as a part of an interdisciplinary team, music therapists may coordinate programming with other professionals such as occupational and physical therapists, speech/language pathologists, and art and dance/movement therapists. Music therapists may also furnish families with suggestions and resources for using music with the child at home.

Music therapists develop a rapport with children. They observe the child’s behavior and interactions and assess communication, cognitive/academic, motor, social/emotional, and musical skills. After developing realistic goals and target objectives, music therapists plan and implement systematic music therapy treatment programs with procedures and techniques designed specifically for the individual child. Music therapists document responses, conduct ongoing evaluations of progress, and often make recommendations to other team members and the family regarding progress. Music therapists will also often make recommendations to team members and the family regarding ways to include successful music therapy techniques in other aspects of the child’s life.

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Who can benefit from music therapy?

Musical abilities or interests are not the determining factor, which insure or deter progress in a music therapy session. Rather, any child who can receive musical stimuli through auditory, visual or tactile means and respond in their own unique way, can benefit.

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How does Music Therapy make a difference with children

• Music stimulates all of the senses and involves the child at many levels. This "multi-modal approach" facilitates many developmental skills.
  
• Quality learning and maximum participation occur when children are permitted to experience the joy of play. The medium of music therapy allows this play to occur naturally and frequently.
  
• Music is highly motivating, yet it can also have a calming and relaxing effect. Enjoyable music activities are designed to be success-oriented and make children feel better about themselves.
  
• Music therapy can help a child manage pain and stressful situations.
  
• Music can encourage socialization, self-expression, communication, and motor development.
  
• Because the brain processes music in both hemispheres, music can stimulate cognitive functioning and may be used for remediation of some speech/language skills.

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What can one expect from a Music Therapist?

A music therapist who works with young children should possess a strong knowledge of relevant music and materials, early childhood development, specific special needs of the child, and developmentally appropriate practices. A music therapist is accomplished in the use of instruments and voice. He/she is able to adapt strategies to a variety of settings and across disciplines, thus individualizing music therapy interventions to meet children’s specific needs. In addition, he/she may provide structured or semi-structured opportunities for children with and without disabilities to interact together in a music setting. Music therapists are creative, energetic, and positive. They demonstrate strong oral and written communication skills and work well with families and other professionals.

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How does Music Therapy help families?

Music therapy can provide enjoyable yet purposeful activities and resources for families to share with their children. Families can learn to use music through meaningful play and nurturing experiences. Music therapy may serve as a positive outlet for interaction, providing fun activities that can include parents, siblings, and extended family. Often music therapy allows a family to see a child in a new light as the child’s strengths are manifested in the music therapy environment..

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Why Music Therapy?

Music therapy may address several needs simultaneously in a positive and exciting medium: it may provide pleasurable learning that promotes success. Furthermore, music therapy can greatly enhance the quality of life of the young child and his/her family. Music is often the first thing to which a child relates. It is a "universal language" that crosses all cultural lines. Music occurs naturally in our environment in many settings and is a socially appropriate activity and leisure skill. Music provides a predictable time-oriented and reality-oriented structure while offering opportunities for participation at one’s own level of functioning and ability. It should be noted that children with disabilities are not necessarily disabled in their musical skills. Not only may music activities be opportunities for a child to "shine," but also they may be used to reinforce nonmusical goals. Most people, especially children, enjoy music – therefore, music therapy can be the therapy that reinforces all other therapies.

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What do others say about Music Therapy?

An occupational therapist writes:
"I love having a music therapist on our interdisciplinary team. When we co-lead sessions, I notice that the children are much more motivated to push themselves when working with such things as fine motor control and range of motion activities."

The father of a 5 year old diagnosed with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder observes:
"Music therapy has helped my son to increase his concentration and attending. His eye contact has increased since participating in music therapy. Moreover, I believe that in part his increased use of language may be attributed to attending music therapy. Finally, he has developed an interest in music." (Child has participated in individual music therapy for 1 1/2 years.)

The mother of a 6 1/2-year-old with Down Syndrome states:
"Music therapy has helped my son to learn turn-taking, sharing, listening skills and some colors, animals, parts of the body and clothes." (Child participated in group music therapy for 2 years in preschool and then in individual music therapy for 1year in kindergarten.)

The mother of twin sons, aged 7 years, one with Tourette Syndrome and one with Pervasive Developmental Disorder, comments:
"For one son music therapy seems to have reduced an extreme sensitivity to sound. For both boys, the therapy has been a catalyst for improved sociability. Much of the time the boys seem to exist on parallel universes, but on the drive home from therapy they usually have a conversation." (The boys have participated in small group or partner music therapy sessions for two years.)

The mother of an 8-year-old with Apert Syndrome and Attention Deficit Behaviors notes:
"Music therapy has (1) helped with my daughter’s spontaneous speech; (2) allowed her to use her hands with many different textures and independently of each other; (3) expanded on her natural musical ability; and (4) helped her learn to focus and develop patience with music as the motivator." (Child participated in small group music therapy for 1 1/2 years in preschool and in individual music therapy for 4 years.)

The parent of a hospitalized child undergoing treatment for cancer relates:
"Music therapy has been a tremendous benefit not only for my child, but also for our family. During music therapy time, my child is able to do fun things that help him forget about his pain. We are grateful to share some time with him doing things that bring back a smile to his face."

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What is a typical Music Therapy session like?

Since music therapists serve a wide variety of persons with many different types of needs there is no such thing as an overall typical session. Sessions are designed and music selected based on the individual client's treatment plan. Activities may include singing, movement, playing instruments, and listening to music. Children play along with music suggested by the therapist or create and explore in their own ways.

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